Scottish Executive

Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act 2003

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the provisions regarding right to buy under the Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act 2003 will come into force.

Ross Finnie: We aim to implement Part 2 of the Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act 2003 (which introduces a right for tenants to buy the farm they rent) in late spring 2004.

  Commencement requires Part 2 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 (which introduces the community right to buy), on which some of the provisions in Part 2 of the Agricultural Holdings Act hang, to be in force. Our target remains to commence Part 2 of the Land Reform Act during spring 2004. We separately require to bring forward to Parliament subordinate legislation to be made under powers contained in the Agricultural Holdings Act. The policy proposals will be the subject of a second consultation paper which we intend to issue in the near future.

Concessionary Travel

Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has now concluded consultations with stakeholders about extending the concessionary fares scheme for senior citizens and people with disabilities; if so, what conclusions have been reached and what timescale has been agreed for extending the scheme.

Nicol Stephen: Following discussions with key stakeholders, we will shortly commence a formal consultation process on the concessionary fares commitments outlined in A Partnership for a Better Scotland . These commitments include the introduction of a free off-peak bus scheme for older people and people with disabilities. The consultation process will run for three months and a decision will then be made on the timescale for delivery.

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding is directed by drug and alcohol action teams towards family support facilities.

Hugh Henry: We do not hold information centrally on funding of local family support facilities by drug and alcohol action teams: that is a matter for them and their constituent agencies.

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on providing family support facilities for drug and alcohol abuse and how such facilities are funded.

Hugh Henry: The provision and funding of family support facilities is a matter for discussion at local level, between the family support group, the local drug and alcohol action team and its partner agencies.

  However, the Executive is strongly committed to the support of families affected by drug and alcohol abuse. The partnership agreement committed the Executive to increasing support for alcohol services in our communities and highlighted support for the families of people affected by alcohol problems as a specific example of the services it wishes to enhance further. The Executive is providing £180,000 from recovered criminal assets for the work of the new Scottish Network for Families Affected by Drugs. It has funded two national conferences to enable family members affected by drug misuse from across Scotland to share their experiences and to gain advice and support on issues such as funding and accessing premises for family support work.

  In addition, the Effective Interventions Unit has published a review of family support designed to help drug action teams and their partner agencies develop more effective ways of supporting the families and carers of drug users.

Environment

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken since the Rio Earth Summit in 1992 to (a) set goals on environmental protection and (b) improve eco-efficiency and resource productivity relating to sanitation issues and what any such (i) goals and (ii) improvements have been.

Allan Wilson: The Executive sets objectives for environment protection annually in the corporate plan for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). Outcomes are reported in SEPA’s annual report. Both the report and the corporate plan may be found on SEPA’s website at www.sepa.org.uk. The Executive’s high-level objectives for environment protection for the present Parliament are set out in A Partnership for a Better Scotland , which may be found in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 27591). Achievements against objectives set during the previous Parliament are set out in Reporting our Achievements, which is also available in the information centre (Bib. number 25620).

  The Water Quality and Standards document, Investment priorities for Scotland’s Water Authorities 2002-2006, set a number of standards for progress during that period. These included standards for drinking water quality, percentage of the population receiving secondary treatment, indicative lengths of water main to be relined/replaced and sewer rehabilitation. This document can be found in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 15676). Improvements in the level of compliance with standards in public drinking water supplies can be found at www.dwqr.org.uk, and on the quality of the Scottish water environment at www.sepa.org.uk.

Europe

Nora Radcliffe (Gordon) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will report on the outcome of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council to be held in Brussels on 17 November 2003.

Ross Finnie: I attended the one-day Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels on 17 November 2003 together with Margaret Beckett and Ben Bradshaw.

  On fisheries, three items were on the agenda. The first was a presentation by the Commission on this year’s scientific advice from the International Council of the Exploration of the Sea and the Commission’s own Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries; the second was a discussion on the Commission’s proposals for cod and hake recovery plans, and the third was a political agreement on the introduction of an experimental fishery in Greenland waters.

  The Commission said that the scientific advice indicated 14 stocks are now outside safe biological limits and this underlined the need for effective effort controls on top of catch limits to make conservation work. The Commission also expressed concerns about the accuracy of landings and discard data, which underpinned scientific assessments and called up on member states to improve on data quality.

  On cod and hake recovery, the Commission said that it was now more than two years since the first cod recovery proposals were tabled. Though the decisions on long-term arrangements were difficult, deferment continued uncertainty in the industry and the Commission’s long-term proposals offered greater certainty and stability.

  A subsequent round table discussion centred on the biological and management targets for cod and hake stocks, the need for effort control, and the merits of the Commission’s proposals as compared with the current, interim regime contained in Annex XVII to last December’s TAC and quota regulation.

  The UK stressed its commitment to recovery measures for stocks in serious difficulty, building on what had been achieved already. However, decisions taken this year would need to reflect what had already been achieved in terms of quota reductions and effort cuts and also take account of the impact on fishermen and communities; whilst there was a need to maintain measures to protect fishing for associated recovery stocks such as haddock, whiting and nephrops, it should be maintained at optimum levels. If the Annex 17 measures are to be continued into 2004 pending introduction of longer term measures, the UK agreed that the weaknesses of Annex 17 should be addressed.

  For the longer term, the UK agreed that the Commission’s proposal based on kilowatt days, should be further considered and, in particular, that multi annual approaches to fisheries management should be pursued.

  The UK supported a provisional decision by Council to apply two aspects of a recently negotiated fisheries protocol between the EC and Greenland, namely experimental fisheries in Greenland water to which the Scottish fleet will have access, and the budgetary support programme. This agreement was without prejudice to further discussions on the draft protocol as a whole, on aspects of which the UK has reservations.

  On agriculture, the Council discussed two aspects of a proposal on official controls of food and feed. A presidency compromise proposed setting rules governing the fees to be charged for control of animal products while leaving those on non-animal products to the discretion of member states. The compromise would also remove the proposed obligation to impose criminal sanctions for certain offences. All member states supported the first and the UK joined the majority in supporting the second.

  The Council took note of progress in discussion of proposals for improved identification of sheep and goats. The text had been modified to accommodate a number of practical concerns from member states but it was agreed, without discussion, to refer it to officials for further examination.

  The Council discussed further reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP). There was a first exchange of views on possible reforms in the sugar sector. The Commission reiterated the case for reform, noting in particular the external pressures on the EU market. Specific proposals were planned to be tabled in the early part of 2004. Meanwhile, the UK joined four other member states in arguing for a reform in line with the principles underlying the reforms that the Council had agreed for other sectors last June, particularly to ensure increased market orientation in this sector. Other member states took a generally more cautious approach, either seeking to delay reform until 2006 or arguing to limit the extent of any departure from the present arrangements. On tobacco, the six producing member states stressed the social and regional importance of tobacco production and expressed varying reservations about the scale of reform in general and, in particular, the full decoupling of aid or its transfer to the second pillar of the CAP. The UK supported the Commission's arguments for full and early decoupling. Given previous discussion on cotton and olive oil, there were only brief comments on this occasion, with producer member states re-emphasising the contribution of these crops to the agricultural economy. All the CAP reform dossiers will now be further considered by officials.

  Under any other business, Denmark drew attention to imports of cat and dog fur derived from animals kept in inhumane conditions; all member states supported Danish concerns. France asked for consideration to be given to the truffle sector which was in difficulties, partly due to this summer's drought. The Commission gave early notice that it would be proposing a reduction in the level of set aside for the 2004 crop to 5%; no member state opposed. Portugal drew attention to difficulties on the rice market. Spain pressed for release of intervention stocks of rye to alleviate animal feed difficulties. Commissioner Fischler reported on a successful Rural Development Conference held in Salzburg the previous week. Slovakia and several of the Accession States had concerns about the proposed treatment of foodstocks in their countries at the point of accession.

Genetically Modified Crops

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much public expenditure has been committed to research into the safety of GM crops.

Allan Wilson: Public expenditure is used to fund academic research into genetically modified organisms but it is not feasible to identify the sum spent on research directly related to the safety of GM crops.

Genetically Modified Crops

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has investigated whether there are any links between members of the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment and their recent employment with, or use of research funding from, GM companies.

Allan Wilson: The chair and members of the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) are appointed in line with the Commissioner for Public Appointments "Code of Practice for the Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies". ACRE is an independent and technical committee and its members are appointed purely for their expertise.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many places are required in medium secure units in order to comply with the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 2003.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive's 1999 policy statement covering the provision of mental health and social work services for mentally disordered offenders made proposals for the organisation and development of these services throughout Scotland. The statement confirmed that NHS boards were responsible for assessing the need for the structured development of local facilities and services. Where these considerations involved medium secure services, it was proposed that these be taken forward by NHS boards working together in regional groupings.

  Progress on planning and providing local forensic services continues to be made. The Orchard Clinic with its 50-bed unit was opened on the Royal Edinburgh campus in 2001. Planning permission for the proposed 70-bed unit at the Stobhill Hospital site in Glasgow has been granted, and work is scheduled to begin in 2004, with an estimated completion date of mid 2006. The plans for the development of a 36-bed unit for the West of Scotland are currently out to consultation. Tayside, Grampian and the Highland NHS boards are assessing the needs of patients in the north and north east and are expected to come forward with proposals in 2004.

Health

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost has been of keeping an unoccupied place in a neonatal intensive care unit available in each NHS board area in each year since 1996-97.

Malcolm Chisholm: The specific information requested is not held centrally.

  A neonatal unit is a facility which provides neonatal special care and/or neonatal intensive care for sick babies. It is not possible to separate the information into care types i.e. intensive and special care.

  However it is possible to calculate the average running cost of a neonatal cot for a year. The following table shows the average cost of a cot in a neonatal unit for years ended 31st March 1997 to 2003. This expenditure includes all direct and allocated costs.

  Average Running Cost of a Cot in a Neonatal Unit in Scotland: by Financial Year

  

 Year
 Cost


 1996-97
 £80,468


 1997-98
 £85,061


 1998-99
 £85,581


 1999-2000
 £91,208


 2000-01
 £96,450


 2001-02
 £104,476


 2002-03
 £113,773



  Source: Scottish Health Service Costs.

Health

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average occupancy rate of intensive care cots has been in each NHS board area in each year since 1996-97.

Malcolm Chisholm: The specific information requested is not held centrally.

  Data are collected centrally on beds and activity for neonatal units. A neonatal unit is a facility which provides neonatal special care and/or neonatal intensive care for sick babies. It is not possible to separate the information into care types i.e. intensive or special care. The following table shows the average occupancy rate of cots in neonatal units for years ended 31st March 1997 to 2002 by NHS board area.

  Percentage Bed Occupancy in Neonatal Units by NHS Board and Financial Year

  

 NHS Board
 1996-97
 1997-98
 1998-99
 1999-2000
 2000-01
 2001-02


 Scotland
 58.2
 58.1
 55.7
 56.6
 56.4
 56.6


 Ayrshire and Arran
 54.1
 55.1
 48.8
 47.4
 59.2
 57.1


 Borders
 -
 -
 -
 -
 42.2
 36.5


 Argyll and Clyde
 54.8
 58.9
 64.1
 68.2
 64.9
 65.4


 Fife
 58.1
 52.0
 51.1
 53.6
 55.2
 48.2


 Glasgow
 65.3
 65.5
 65.6
 70.3
 65.2
 63.2


 Highland
 46.3
 48.8
 45.6
 48.2
 47.1
 45.9


 Lanarkshire
 41.1
 42.0
 41.1
 35.3
 37.7
 44.1


 Grampian
 69.2
 65.3
 60.5
 68.7
 65.3
 63.5


 Lothian
 72.0
 63.3
 64.1
 65.7
 59.6
 54.5


 Tayside
 52.1
 50.1
 44.7
 39.2
 58.5
 73.1


 Forth Valley
 44.8
 42.2
 33.4
 38.7
 42.0
 40.8


 Dumfries and Galloway
 40.6
 37.4
 36.2
 43.5
 39.3
 40.0



  Source: ISD Scotland (Form ISD(S)1).

Health

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions an infant has been transferred due to the unavailability of a free intensive care cot in the appropriate NHS board area in each year since 1996-97, broken down by board.

Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not held centrally.

International Visits

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received, directly or indirectly, a request from the Government of the United States of America to increase security at any location in Scotland in relation to any visit and, if so, when such a request was received, who it was received from and what the nature of the request was.

Cathy Jamieson: I am aware of no such request.

National Health Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-3185 by Mr Tom McCabe on 3 November 2003, what its targets are for reducing the number of delayed discharges in each local authority and NHS board partnership and how each partnership has performed.

Mr Tom McCabe: The following table shows the agreed targets for reducing the number of delayed discharges in each local authority and NHS Partnership by April 2004.

  

 Local Authority and NHS Partnership
 April 2004 Target


 Argyll and Clyde
 233


 Ayrshire and Arran
 169


 Borders
 40


 Dumfries and Galloway
 8


 Fife
 90


 Forth Valley
 100


 Grampian
 228


 Greater Glasgow
 230


 Highland
 54


 Lanarkshire
 123


 Lothian
 345


 Orkney
 7


 Shetland
 2


 Tayside
 150


 Western Isles
 9


 Total
 1,788



  Figures from the most recent ISD Scotland census of patients ready for discharge can be found at http://www.nhsscotland.com/isdonline/files/July03pub.pdf.

Scottish Transport Group Pension Schemes

Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has now been paid out in ex gratia payments from the Scottish Transport Group pension funds surplus and when it expects to pay out the remainder of the £126 million that was committed for such payments.

Nicol Stephen: £121.7 million of the £126 million has been paid to date. The balance will be paid as and when contact is established with the remaining former Scottish Transport Group pension scheme members (or dependents of members) who are entitled to ex-gratia payments.

Scottish Water

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much water (a) in total and (b) on average per household was supplied by Scottish Water to consumers in the last year for which figures are available; what percentage of the total figure was tap water and, of this, what percentage is estimates to have been used for drinking purposes.

Ross Finnie: This is an operational matter for Scottish Water and I have asked them to write to you about this matter.

Teachers

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the current method for assessing teacher staffing levels is adequate and whether it has any plans to review the assessment procedure.

Peter Peacock: Pupil:teacher ratios have declined in primary schools from 19.1 in 1999 to 18.0 in 2002. In secondary schools they have declined from 12.9 to 12.7 over the same period. Therefore previous circulars on staffing levels issued by the Scottish Office now have little relevance to today’s schools. This is now a matter for individual education authorities taking into account local circumstances and workforce planning assumptions now take place against actual pupil:teacher ratios rather than any historic staffing standard.

Teachers

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council regarding the funding, and number, of teacher training places in areas of identified shortages.

Peter Peacock: As part of the annual teacher workforce planning exercise guidance is offered to the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC) on priority subjects. The allocation of funding for teacher training places to higher education institutions is a matter for SHEFC.

Teachers

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what scope there is within the current national agreements for local flexibility in recruiting and training teachers.

Peter Peacock: Recruitment of teachers is a matter for education authorities as employers. Teachers in local authority employment are subject to national terms and conditions of service.

  It is open to the universities that provide initial teacher education and local authorities, in discussion with the General Teaching Council for Scotland and the subsequent approval of Scottish ministers, to make bespoke arrangements for training teachers.

Teachers

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it would support the funding of initiatives such as "golden hellos" as a means to address any local teacher shortages.

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what incentive schemes there are, or are under consideration, for addressing any local teacher shortages.

Peter Peacock: Teachers in education authority schools are subject to national terms and conditions of service agreed within the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers. The national conditions contain remote schools and distant islands allowances. There are no plans to introduce "golden hellos" or other local incentive schemes.

Teachers

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what allowance is made within the teacher workforce planning model for relief staff.

Peter Peacock: The requirement for supply staff is discussed with members of the Teacher Workforce Planning Advisory Group which includes representatives of education authorities, teachers’ organisations and the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC). The purpose of the group is to offer advice on the requirement for newly trained teachers to Scottish ministers who in turn provide guidance to SHEFC. Intakes to courses of teacher training are a matter for SHEFC. An allowance of 7% in primary education and 6% in secondary education has been included within the statistical model from 2004 onwards, together with further additional supply cover in maths and English. This compares to an average teachers absence rate due to ill health of 4.0% in 2001-02.

Water Charges

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals are being considered to reduce water charges to industrial customers who consume large volumes of water.

Ross Finnie: In the 2003-04 charges scheme, customers who consume large volumes of waters had the option to sign up for a three-year agreement at a discounted rate. The details are available on Scottish Water’s website at: http://www.scottishwater.co.uk/index.htm.

  The Water Industry Commissioner and Scottish Water are currently discussing the annual charges scheme for 2004-05.

Water Charges

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the aggregate external finance settlement from April 2004 to reflect additional costs to local authorities arising from any increase in water charges.

Mr Andy Kerr: Local authorities were informed of their three-year allocations in December 2002, which were the consequentials of spending review 2002. Discussions with COSLA are starting for spending review 2004 but presently these discussions are still at an early stage and no decisions have been taken. Funding pressures will be included as part of these discussions.